I like to think that I have not often been totally disappointed in anyone. Yes, there have been minor blips in many relationships, but nothing that meant the end of the line, for me at least. I know that I have done and said many things in my life which have most probably disappointed others, so who am I to be so unaccepting of what another person says and does. Until this week, that is.
The news that an acquaintance, Dr. Ben Levin, has been arrested on charges of child pornography has astounded me on so many levels. We have know Dr. Levin (or Benjy as he was in university) for close to fifty years. He is not in any way a close friend, but our paths have crossed several times over the years, and I always looked at him and thought, boy, he has really made it in life. Wonderful family, challenging career, respected in his field, - I had nothing but admiration for him as I followed his career from a distance. All that came crashing down Monday night as I was listening to the news. How could this be? Am I that bad a judge of character? How can anyone do these things and think he or she will not be discovered sooner or later?
I know that he is innocent until proven guilty, but I have too much respect for authority figures to believe that they are anything other than absolutely sure of what information they have, information that led to the arrest. The charges are horrible, and go well beyond viewing pornography. Horrified as I am, I can't help but feel such pain for his family, his students, his colleagues; for everyone who put trust in him personally and professionally.
Ok now, having written this, maybe I can put out of my mind the vision of other people's grandchildren being violated by this monster. All our children and grandchildren deserve so much better than that.
